Dec 12th, 2012 at 10:00AM: I have a photo, printed from film, old school ... my husband and I are standing in a snowstorm in the Austrian alps. The flash from the camera reflects off giant fluffy flakes. The sky behind us is black – it's early evening, but an alpine evening, so it is dark. We are wearing big coats and big hats and big snow boots. We are surrounded by a group of Krampus, the alpine monster of the ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Bavaria posts
My Own Personal Krampus
Dec 12th, 2012 at 10:00AM: I have a photo, printed from film, old school ... my husband and I are standing in a snowstorm in the Austrian alps. The flash from the camera reflects off giant fluffy flakes. The sky behind us is black – it's early evening, but an alpine evening, so it is dark. We are wearing big coats and big hats and big snow boots. We are surrounded by a group of Krampus, the alpine monster of the ...What You Need To Know About Oktoberfest 2012
Sep 20th, 2012 at 10:00AM: I love Oktoberfest season. Just as the summer heat disappears, men in lederhosen with feathered hats take to the streets, and I can sample all the Oktoberfest beers that arrive in my favorite beer stores. (This year my favorite is the Otter Creek Oktoberfest, which is brewed with real Vermont maple syrup.) Munich's Oktoberfest starts on Saturday and in the coming weeks, there will be Oktoberfest ...Explore secret underground tunnels beneath Germany and Austria
Aug 4th, 2011 at 10:30AM: A vast network of caves, tunnels, and chambers lie beneath the surface in parts of southern Germany and northern Austria, but not even archeologists know why they exist. Called "erdstalls" or, more colorfully, "goblin holes" (Schrazellöcher), these mysterious labyrinths, estimated to be about 1,000 years old, connect churches, castles, cemeteries, and other landmarks of the Central European ...Lost travel friends
May 5th, 2011 at 1:45PM: Before Facebook--hell, before mobile telephones and email--it wasn't all that easy to keep in touch with people you might meet on the road.
You could exchange addresses and telephone numbers, of course, but by the time you were in a position to make a call or scribble a letter, the immediacy of the connection you'd shared while staying up all night on that Sardinian beach would probably be ...Arriving at Munich's Oktoberfest 2010
Sep 29th, 2010 at 12:01PM: Direct, no muss no fuss and much simpler than flying, I arrived into Munich, the capital of Bavaria, on the evening train from Budapest. It was easy -- buy a first class ticket, get on the train a couple of minutes before embarkation, stow your bags, and away we go. I traveled through eastern Hungary, bucolic and somewhat scenic, then the entirety of Austria. The train passed green hamletted ...In Oberammergau: the most "passionate" performance you will ever see
Nov 10th, 2009 at 1:00PM: Now you can visit a plague-ridden era and watch history unfold. No, this is not an invitation to get busy with swine flu. Instead, head out to Oberammergau, Bavaria and witness a performance that has been carried out for centuries.
In 1633, Oberammergau's population was decimated by the Plague. The villagers were brutalized, but their spirit remained strong, and they promised to act out the events ...Photo of the Day (10.26.08)
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Oct 26th, 2008 at 11:00AM: Imagine drawing back the shutters in the morning and gazing out onto the rooftops of a picturesque medieval village like this one. Flickr user arex was fortunate enough to have just such a chance, taking this photo in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany. I particularly like the perspective - the A-frame rooftoop in the foreground offers some interesting architectural detail while also ...How Much Would You Pay for a Pair of Lederhosen?
Sep 4th, 2007 at 6:53PM: A new world record has been broken recently -- most expensive pair of Lederhosen. A version of the traditional alpine outfit recently sold for 85,000 euros, which is $115,000. Lederhosen, which are traditionally made from the hide of an animal -- typically a goat, pig or elk -- is strangely enduring fashion trend in the Alps. This particular pair is adorned with 116 diamonds, each set in gold. ...Photo of the Day (7/11/07)
Jul 11th, 2007 at 10:35PM: Here is a magical night shot of a little town called Füssen located right outside of Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. While I'm sure it is just as charming with the sunshine - the fog makes for a nice touch. Round of sound to StrudelMonkey for hanging around these parts of the globe to capture such a sight! ...
